There could be sweeping changes of personnel at all levels of English cricket,
with roles of captaincy, coach, selector and managing director changing hands

Currently: Alastair CookAlternatives: Stuart Broad, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior. Tactically Cook is struggling badly and not leading from the front with the bat, his great strength when they won in India last year. He has endured the strangest first 12 months of any captain after winning in India, beating Australia in England but mow faces the strong prospect of a 5-0 whitewash. He wants to remain in the job and is probably safe due to a lack of realistic alternatives. Ian Bell has a sharp cricket brain according to sources at Warwickshire but is a quiet personality who does not exude leadership skills. Matt Prior, the official vice-captain, has more pressing matters as he tries to regain his place in the side. Stuart Broad is leader of the T20 side but his injury record would make him a gamble as Test leader. Then there is the nuclear option: KP. There is unfinished business for Pietersen as far as captaincy is concerned. Surely reappointing him would be a step too far for the ECB after the textgate scandal and Peter Moores row. But never say never in sport.

SELECTOR

Currently: Geoff Miller.Successor: James Whitaker (from Wednesday). James Whitaker replaces Geoff Miller as national selector on Jan 1 and will be in Sydney to oversee selection for the fifth Test. Changes are certain at the SCG and the adding of Scott Borthwick to the squad suggests Whitaker wants to blood younger players. Whitaker has been part of the selection panel for more than six years and was the man who scouted county players for Flower so should have a good handle on the players who could potentially take the next step.

Currently: Andy Flower.Alternative: Ashley Giles. Andy Flower is a proud man and will wait until he meets his new line manager, Paul Downton, before making up his mind on his future. He has been reluctant to state publicly he wants to stay in case Downton feels it is time to go in a new direction. Also Flower would know declaring he is leaving before the end of a series would destabilise the group further. Senior figures at the ECB have said privately throughout the tour they want Flower to stay but he will not want to remain if he feels he has taken the team as far as possible. Flower’s departure would leave Ashley Giles in prime position to take over. The one-day coach led England to the ICC Champions Trophy final and has worked quietly within Flower’s set up but would want to take the side in his own direction. Giles will stay until the 2015 World Cup meaning that if Flower goes an outside appointment would have to work within the current framework and only be in charge of the Test side. That could put some off applying for the job if it becomes vacant.

OTHER COACHES

Currently: Richard Halsall (assistant), David Saker (bowling), Graham Gooch (batting).Alternatives: Paul Collingwood, Graham Thorpe, Mark Ramprakash. Flower is very loyal to his backroom team who have served him well over the past five years. Richard Halsall, the former school teacher, is the assistant coach renowned for his high work ethic and methodical approach. David Saker, the fast bowling coach, signed a new deal at the start of the Ashes but it would not be a surprise if Graham Gooch, at the age of 60, decides to quit as batting coach after this tour. Paul Collingwood, currently working with the Scotland team, has been earmarked as a future member of the backroom staff while batting coaches Graham Thorpe and Mark Ramprakash are highly rated for their work with the Lions and under-19s team.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Currently: Hugh Morris Sucessor: Paul Downton (from Wednesday). Paul Downton was a surprise appointment as Hugh Morris’ replacement. He starts his job officially on Jan 1 and will be in Sydney for the final Test. Since retiring from the game in 1991, Downton has worked in the city as a stockbroker with his place on the Middlesex committee his only involvement in cricket. The game has undergone huge change since his playing days but a fresh approach is perhaps what the England team requires if the management structure is to be shaken up. His responsibilities are wider than just the men’s team with Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, keen to see an improvement in results at under-19s level.